I think my shocks are close to EOL. Has anyone here had luck getting BMW to install new shocks under the scheduled maintenance or warranty? I know they are considered wear items, but I have a pretty distinct memory of some owners claiming success with this as well as brake pads and rotors.

My scheduled maintenance is coming up in a couple of weeks and I need to know if there's anything I can say to help things along.

I think my shocks are close to EOL. Has anyone here had luck getting BMW to install new shocks under the scheduled maintenance or warranty? I know they are considered wear items, but I have a pretty distinct memory of some owners claiming success with this as well as brake pads and rotors.

My scheduled maintenance is coming up in a couple of weeks and I need to know if there's anything I can say to help things along.
They will definitely replace your pads for you if you are still under warranty(the brake sensor light must come on in order to get them replaced), I am not sure of rotors though. My guess would be that they would replace the rotors before the suspension anyday...so I wish you luck getting the springs/shocks replaced under warranty.

Brakes pads and rotors are under scheduled maintanence. Shocks are a wearable items and only get replaced if they have premature wear. You can argue your case, but it's 50/50.

Good luck with the shocks,it's going to depend on the dealer you have. BMW put 4 pairs of rotors on my wifes m3,she drives hard and they kept warping (with air vent open) finally I got pissed even though it was free and put my usual porterfield r4s pads on and 12,000mi later zero problems and no dust.

^^^
Man I think its cool that your wife drives an M3 hooked up. Lucky man! Much props to ya.

Thanks for the advice guys. Given how awesome the service dept is there now, I think I have a 3 out of 4 chance of making it happen. I think that since I just bought another car from them they might push a swap through warranty.

I'm curious though - how exactly can I tell if the shocks are bad?
On an American car you can pull up on a fender and push down to see how the valving is doing, and shove the car to the side to see how long it takes to stop bouncing, and that gives a good idea what shape the shocks are in. Yet I did the same thing on my 98M3 when the OEM shocks were trashed, and it barely shimmied.
They don't seem to be leaking, which would be an obvious sign. But sometimes the ride gets really bad, squirmy, especially when I'm leaving a parking lot or turning off a side street into main traffic. I've been bitching about this for a while (Kev remembers, I'm sure), and the last time they went in there (10k ago) they said there was nothing wrong.

So I have to be able to tell them something that they can run with and get me some new shocks. Any ideas?

I'm curious though - how exactly can I tell if the shocks are bad?

Take them out and put them on a shock dyno along with new ones is the only sure way to tell, if not obviously leaking or floaty. It's tough to prove if the dealer is not cooperative.

Good time to get a coilover suspension!

I would but pretty soon I'll be doing the Garage Door Opener Mod* to the car, so switching suspensions now would be a waste of money.







* This is where you pick up your garage door opener and put a new car underneath it. Works great. Full warranty too.

I would but pretty soon I'll be doing the Garage Door Opener Mod* to the car, so switching suspensions now would be a waste of money.

* This is where you pick up your garage door opener and put a new car underneath it. Works great. Full warranty too.

Well, give it a try with the dealer, and if they don't buy it, maybe don't worry about it until you sell it then.